This is near and dear to my heart! This morning, I was reading an article by Heather Huhman called, “5 Rules for Maintaining Your Brand Once You Have the Job”. Step number 5 states: Don’t compromise your brand for your new employer. This isn’t a jab at employers by any means. But it is about not forsaking who you are and forgetting what you originally brought to the table at your place of employment.
To talk about my own personal experiences, I’ve been in this situation, unfortunately. I’ve been so absorbed into a job where I have completely forgot who I was. I became adaptable to the corporate culture and other tasks not associated with my brand and lost myself, thus, becoming ineffective. It’s almost like a deep sleep!
With the new age of social media, I think that it is easier to stay who you are. You stay accountable. In fact, you are highly unlikely to veer away from your brand because your reputation is at stake—your brand is at stake. For example, as I blog about who I am and what I know, I am establishing ME! The corporations, businesses, consultants, and people that I work with now and in the future will want my skill set for ME!
It is possible to be loyal to your employer; however, it’s even more important to not lose yourself. Losing yourself spells out compromise for you and your brand. This compromise will then cause your credibility to be questionable.
Don’t lose who you are! Don’t compromise yourself! Be unique, yourself, and maintain your brand!
